P‘°’re-4-  H S, 

Modern  Circuit 
/Aiders  in  Chosen 


* rJ1  HERE  is  that  which  presseth 
upon  me  daily,  anxiety  for  all 
the  churches.” 

2 Cor.  11:28 


BOARD  OF  FOREIGN  MISSIONS  OF  THE 
PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  IN  THE  U.  S.  A. 

156  FIFTH  AVENUE 


NEW  YORK 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/moderncircuitridOOmccu 


Modern  Circuit  Riders 
in  Chosen 


“SWINGING  AROUND  THE  CIRCUIT” 

The  nearest  approach  America  knows  to 
an  evangelistic  missionary’s  life  in  Chosen, 
is  that  of  the  circuit  rider  of  pioneer  days. 
Such  a missionary  usually  has  from  twelve 
to  seventy-five  churches  under  his  care, 
some  comprised  of  groups  of  about  twenty 
people,  others  having  as  many  as  600  mem- 
bers; some  only  two  or  three  miles  apart, 
others  separated  by  thirty  miles.  In  the 
latter  case  a day’s  travel  is  required  to  go 
from  one  to  the  other  church — travel  made 
slow  because  a missionary,  like  an  army, 
though  perhaps  mounted  on  horse  or  bi- 
cycle, must  nevertheless  “travel  on  his 
stomach”  through  a hotelless,  spare-room- 
less, bedless  land.  Therefore,  at  least  a 
few  blankets  and  provisions  must  be  laden 
on  a tough,  slow-footed,  thirty-miles-a-day 
travelling  pack-pony,  led  by  a horse  boy, 
to  whom  the  flight  of  time  means  nought. 

The  average  circuit  rider  visits  his 
churches  twice  a year.  For  these  visits  ap- 
pointments are  made  often  months  in  ad- 
y,a?ce-  In,  “swinging  'round  the  circuit” 
it  is  often  late  afternoon  or  evening  before 
the  appointed  church  is  reached.  Usually 
just  outside  the  town  the  circuit  rider  is 
met  by  a procession  of  white-robed  figures 
—not  angels  yet,  though  Christians—and 
escorted  to  a low  room,  perhaps  ten  feet 
square,  in  a thatched  or  occasionally  tiled 

“clean  H”Tf ‘S  Jl®0"1  HaS  been  sPeC»ally 

FC**aned  r vthe  use  of  the  missionary 

Even  so  ,t  is  better  not  to  look  under  the 
So,?\etimes.  to  be  sure,  the  circuit 
rider  would  prefer  to  stay  outside,  but 


courtesy  forbids;  and  so  he  sits  on  the 
floor  for  hours  examining  church  records, 
conferring  with  officers,  and  examining  can- 
didates for  baptism  or  for  the  timid  en- 
trance into  the  catechumenate.  When  the 
candidates  are  women  they  are  usually  so 
nervous  and  frightened  that  with  averted 
faces  they  can  scarcely  summon  courage  to 
answer  the  few  simple  but  necessary  ques- 
tions. 

This  work,  with  the  church  service  fol- 
lowing, often  takes  until  midnight.  When 
at  length  one  lies  down  to  rest,  it  is  by  no 
means  assured,  for  in  nearly  all  Korean 
houses  there  are  many  “preventatives  of 
sleep,”  while  outside,  across  the  fifteen  foot 
courtyard,  are  horses,  cows,  pigs  and  chick- 
ens, some  of  which  retire  late  and  some  of 
which  rise  early.  In  the  morning,  after 
breakfast  and  prayers  the  circuit  rider  is 
away  again.  For  months  each  year  this  is 
a daily  experience. 

In  the  work  of  his  circuit  the  missionary 
is  associated  with  Korean  pastors  and  un- 
ordained helpers  each  in  charge  of  from 
one  to  ten  churches,  depending  on  their  size, 
and  ability  to  pay  the  modest  salary  of  from 
five  to  ten  dollars  a month.  He  also  over- 
sees the  work  of  colporteurs  supplied  by  the 
Mission  or  Bible  Society,  and  evangelists 
and  Bible  women  supported  by  the  churches. 
There  are  also  a number  of  primary  schools 
and  their  teachers,  and  each  little  church 
has  its  officers — lay-preachers  these — de- 
ficient in  education,  as  a rule,  save  that 
God’s  Word  in  their  hearts  ‘‘as  a burning 
fire,  cannot  be  restrained.” 

The  circuit  rider  is  also  executive  head 
of  the  work  in  his  circuit.  This  is  of  two 
kinds:  the  edification  of  Christians  in 

Christ,  and  the  winning  of  non-Christians. 
Two  or  more  meetings  of  all  leaders  in  the 


4 


circuit  are  held  each  year,  at  which  times 
everything  concerning  the  circuit  is  dis- 
cussed. Reports  from  churches,  colpor- 
teurs, evangelists  and  Bible  women  are 
heard.  Plans  for  raising  salaries  are  made 
which,  however  they  may  stimulate  in- 
terest, have  never  yet  stooped  to  anything 
less  than  direct  giving;  no  bazaars,  no  sup- 
pers or  entertainments  for  the  painless  ex- 
traction of  money  having  ever  been  held  in 
these  churches.  Days  are  appointed  for 
offerings;  villages  on  which  evangelistic 
work  is  to  be  concentrated  are  decided 
upon;  pledges  for  personal  work  among  the 
unconverted  are  taken;  Sunday-school  les- 
sons are  chosen;  curricula  for  Bible  study 
classes,  one  to  four  in  each  local  church, 
and  two  or  more  district  classes  with  teach- 
ers for  the  same,  are  determined  upon. 
This  work  influences  every  Christian  in  the 
country  and  demands  closest  attention. 
Throughout  the  year  the  missionary  must 
keep  in  constant  touch  with  all  who  are  as- 
sociated with  him,  and  by  letter  or  personal 
visit  insure  the  work  being  done  when  and 
as  agreed ; for  executive  power  is  as  yet  un- 
developed in  the  Korean  character,  and 
many  are  the  difficulties  arising  from  its 
lack. 


HEART  STIRRING  EXPERIENCES 

In  working  out  these  plans,  difficulties 
and  problems  innumerable,  and  joys  and 
heart-stirring  experiences  not  a few  are  en- 
countered. In  a difficult  field  where  three 
fine  souls  are  working,  a member  of  a large 
and  influential  family  became  mentally  un- 
balanced. These  three  people  literally  spent 
days  praying  with  the  man,  for  demon  pos- 
session and  exorcism  by  prayer  are  realities 
to  Korean  Christians.  Success  so  far 
crowned  their  efforts  that  the  man  came  to 


5 


the  Mission  Hospital  in  Pyeng  Yang,  where 
he  stayed  for  several  months  and  returned 
home  apparently  well.  He  became  a Chris- 
tian and  for  two  months  strove  to  win  his 
relatives  and  neighbors,  who,  rejoicing  over 
his  return  of  reason,  accepted  Christ  and 
set  apart  a building  for  a church.  Soon 
thirty  people  were  regularly  worshipping 
there.  The  missionary  came,  rejoiced  with 
the  people  and  accepted  this  man  as  a 
catechumen. 

In  the  middle  of  the  night  following  he 
was  aroused  by  some  one  making  a dis- 
turbance outside  his  door.  It  was  this  man, 
wildly  insane  again.  The  Christians,  be- 
lieving the  evil  spirit  had  returned,  got  him 
into  the  house  and  spent  the  rest  of  the 
night  praying  for  him.  In  the  morning,  he 
was  somewhat  quieter,  so  the  missionary 
gathered  the  man’s  relatives  together  to 
persuade  them  to  continue  their  new  in- 
terest in  Christ;  and  after  comforting  as 
well  as  possible  the  three  who  are  the  salt 
of  that  particular  neighborhood,  at  ten 
o’clock  in  the  morning  left  for  an  appoint- 
ment seventeen  miles  away.  Arrived  there 
he  had  no  sooner  entered  the  house  than  he 
heard  a voice  which  he  recognized  as  be- 
longing to  an  old  man,  blind,  deaf  and 
friendless,  whom  he  had  met  three  months 
before,  fifty  miles  away.  Going  out  he 
found  the  old  man  in  a more  pitiable  state 
than  before,  for  that  frosty  morning  in 
crossing  a stream  he  had  fallen  into  the 
water.  What  could  be  done?  The  old  man 
was  made  comfortable  for  that  day  and 
steps  taken  towards  a permanent  solution 
of  his  problem  of  life,  by  no  means  an  easy 
task  in  this  land  of  few  charitable  institu- 
tions. For  such  experiences  every  mission- 
ary needs  a wisdom  greater  than  Solomon’s. 


6 


RIGHT  OUT  OF  HEATHENISM 

If  all  Christians,  the  missionary  included, 
were  more  like  their  Lord,  a difficult  class 
of  problems  would  vanish.  Right  out  of 
heathenism,  with  Christian  character  un- 
formed, and  with  few  examples  to  inspire, 
new  ideals,  though  sincerely  professed,  are 
with  frailty  lived  up  to.  How  is  one  to 
rebuke  the  sin  yet  save  the  sinner?  An  old 
man,  once  wealthy,  but  later  penniless,  on 
examining  the  school  treasurer’s  books, 
thought  the  treasurer  had  embezzled  fifty 
yen.  Following  good  Korean  precedent  he 
went  to  the  man’s  house,  hailed  him  out 
and  in  a loud  voice  told  him,  and  inci- 
dentally all  his  neighbors  about  it.  A quar- 
rel arose  and  strained  relations  in  the 
church  resulted.  An  examination  of  the 
books  proved  there  had  been  no  embezzle- 
ment. But  the  bias  of  long  years  of  pride 
and  station,  lived  before  he  knew  Christ, 
was  in  ascendancy  in  the  old  man’s  heart, 
and  he  would  not  retract  his  statements 
though  he  had  to  admit  he  had  no  proof  for 
them.  It  became  necessary  to  discipline 
him,  but  when  the  missionary  arrived,  the 
old  gentleman  was  ill.  The  missionary  was 
received  without  cordiality,  but  after  a few 
verses  of  Scripture  and  prayer,  the  old 
man’s  cold  heart  thawed  a little  and  that 
night  he  confessed  to  God  and  in  the  morn- 
ing to  the  missionary.  In  less  than  a 
month  he  died  a triumphant  death,  having 
led  his  son,  heretofore  an  evil  man,  to 
Christ,  because  the  latter  saw  and  was 
greatly  moved  by  the  change  in  his  father. 

A WHOLE  CHURCH  GOING  WRONG 

Sometimes  a whole  church  goes  wrong. 
One  church  informed  the  missionary  that  he 
would  never  be  allowed  to  enter  it  again. 


7 


Indeed,  individuals  there  threatened  to  kill 
him.  They  were  clearly  in  the  wrong  but 
the  mob-spirit  so  easily  aroused  in  this  peo- 
ple had  possession  of  them,  and  collectively 
they  were  ready  for  anything,  though  taken 
singly  each  was  more  tractable.  The  cir- 
cuit rider  cancelled  all  other  engagements 
and  for  ten  days  stayed  by  that  church. 
All  the  officers  were  forced  to  resign.  Those 
who  were  leaders  in  wrong  doing  were  dis- 
ciplined and  for  a considerable  time  the  out- 
come was  pioblematical.  God  gave  grace, 
however,  and  eventually  the  whole  church 
repented.  To-day  no  church  in  his  whole 
circuit  welcomes  the  missionary  so  warmly 
as  this  one.  Sometimes  such  experiences 
come  so  thick  and  fast  and  are  so  difficult 
that  one  longs  to  lay  down  his  work  and 
rest. 

OTHER  EXPERIENCES 

There  are  other  experiences,  however, 
some  ludicrous,  some  heroic,  some  sublime. 
As  a little  church,  three  years  out  from 
heathenism,  the  missionary  noticing  the 
generally  unwashed  condition  of  a really 
fine  congregation,  said  to  the  children : “I 

had  intended  to  take  a photograph  of  this 
congregation  this  morning,  but  you  children 
have  forgotten  to  wash  as  your  parents  tell 
you  to  do  every  morning.  You  would  be 
ashamed  if  I should  take  a picture  of  you 
in  this  condition.  But  if  you  will  hurry 
home,  wash  and  return  at  once,  I will  wait 
and  take  the  picture.”  The  sight  that  fol- 
lowed, almost  every  man,  woman  and  child 
making  for  home  in  a new-found  eagerness 
for  cleanliness,  heretofore  in  that  church 
not  next  to  godliness,  and  returning  washed, 
combed  and  freshly  clad,  is  one  that  the 
missionary  will  long  remember.  It  gave  a 
fine  opportunity  for  a talk  on  the  proper 
preparation  for,  and  decorum  during  wor- 
ship of  God. 


8 


In  another  village  a poor  farmer  sold 
his  only  ox  to  buy  a church.  In  the  first 
flush  of  joy  which  his  devotion  and  sacri- 
fice called  forth,  he  passed  the  winter.  But 
spring  drew  near  and  with  it  no  prospect  of 
getting  his  work  done  on  which  depended 
his  very  life.  So,  in  deep  distress,  he  came 
to  the  missionary.  Self-support  is  so  firm 
a principle  of  the  Chosen  Mission  that  this 
year  in  the  Pyeng  Yang  territory  the  Mis- 
sion’s gifts  total  only  one-sixteenth  of  what 
the  native  church  gave;  but  even  this  prin- 
ciple is  a good  rule  to  break  sometimes,  and 
the  missionary  was  sure  of  it  when  eventu- 
ally he  got  his  money  back. 

In  another  church  a man  under  suspen- 
sion was  inquired  for  and  visited.  He  and 
his  old  wife  were  found  alone.  So  little  af- 
fection have  some  husbands  and  wives  that 
this  man  had  never  told  his  wife  about 
Jesus,  because  she  was  deaf  and  it  was  dif- 
ficult to  speak  to  her.  The  missionary 
however,  when  he  learned  the  circum- 
stances, gave  most  attention  to  her,  and 
after  he  had  told  of  God’s  love  and  Jesus’ 
sacrifice  for  her,  the  old  woman  broke  down 
and  cried,  saying  none  had  ever  before  told 
her  that  she,  old,  deaf  and  neglected  might 
be  saved.  Squatting  there  in  the  courtyard 
of  a miserable  tumbledown  mud  house,  she 
covenanted  to  give  her  heart  to  the  Lord, 
and  her  husband  covenanted  to  begin  again. 
Thus  it  is  that  often  the  circuit  rider  feels 
that  he  has  been  near  the  gates  of  Heaven. 

This,  in  brief  is  the  circuit  rider’s  life: 
“In  journeyings  often,  in  perils  often  . . . 
in  labor  and  travail,”  year  after  year,  “if 
by  any  means  he  may  save  some.”  ‘ Were  it 
not  for  the  sustaining  grace  of  God  no  man 
could  stand  the  strain  and  stress  of  such  a 
life  for  long.  With  the  Apostle  Paul  the 
circuit  rider  can  also  say— “There  is  that 


9 


which  presseth  upon  me  daily,  anxiety  for 
all  the  churches.” 

A Circuit  Rider  of  Pyeng  Yang,  Chosen. 

FIFTEEN  QUALIFICATIONS  NECESSARY 
TO  BE  A MISSIONARY  IN  CHOSEN 

It  was  just  four  years  ago.  The  women 
had  begun  their  missionary  societies  and 
enough  money  had  been  raised  in  the  Syen 
Chun  Society  to  pay  the  salary  of  one 
Korean  woman  to  be  their  missionary 
among  the  heathen  in  whatever  place  the 
Home  Mission  Committee  of  Presbytery 
would  designate.  There  were  several  candi- 
dates for  the  very  difficult  place.  Any  one 
of  the  members  would  have  considered  it 
the  greatest  honor  that  could  be  conferred 
on  her  should  she  be  chosen.  By  a process 
of  elimination  the  ones  with  special  home 
responsibilities  were  not  considered.  Some 
four  or  five  women  seemed  to  some  of  the 
leaders  of  the  society  worthy  candidates.  A 
number  wanted  to  go,  whereas  but  one 
could  be  sent.  It  was  left  with  the  Com- 
mittee of  Presbytery  to  choose  the  one 
who  should  go.  In  discussing  the  several 
candidates  the  Committee  finally  settled 
on  Hyensi.  She  had  not  been  considered 
by  the  leading  women  so  Pastor  Kim,  of  the 
South  Church,  Syen  Chun,  and  myself  were 
appointed  a Committee  to  tell  them  of  our 
choice.  We  had  kept  the  matter  to  our- 
selves until  the  night  of  the  meeting.  I 
was  asked  to  speak  first  by  the  lady  Presi- 
dent who  conducted  the  meeting  with  a 
dignity  equal  to  that  of  a City  Woman’s 
Missionary  Society  in  America.  (I  have 
visited  many.)  I explained  in  the  gentlest 
terms  possible  the  relation  of  the  Women’s 
Missionary  society  to  the  Presbytery  and 
urged  strongly  an  effort  on  their  part  to  be 
submissive  even  though  the  decision  was 
not  according  to  the  wishes  of  all.  I led  them 


10 


in  prayer  and  Pastor  Kim  addressed  them. 
His  subject  was  “The  History  of  the  One 
we  would  choose  to  be  your  missionary  to 
the  heathen,”  or  “Fifteen  Qualifications 
necessary  to  be  a Missionary.”  Here  they 
are  translated  for  you: 

1.  One  who  is  always  happy  in  Jesus. 

2.  One  who  sincerely  has  deep  anxiety 
for  those  who  have  fallen  and  for  those 
who  know  not  Jesus. 

3.  One  who  is  so  full  of  Jesus  that  she 
thinks  not  of  rules  or  ways  and  means  in 
leading  another  to  Jesus.  She  has  the  tvay 
where  there  is  opportunity. 

4.  One  who  truthfully  reverences  her 
mother-in-law. 

5.  Sin  is  terrible  to  her.  She  repents 
broken-heartedly  at  even  the  smallest  mis- 
take. 

6.  She  makes  an  effort  to  make  others 
happy  and  she  does  it. 

7.  She  is  praised  by  the  heathen  for  her 
great  zeal  and  earnestness  in  preaching. 

8.  She  doesn’t  preach  to  receive  praise 
or  to  be  chosen  to  some  office  in  the  Mis- 
sionary Society  or  church. 

9.  One  who  is  not  trying  to  keep  from 
losing  official  position  already  gained. 

10.  One  who  has  no  anxiety  about 
whether  her  health  will  hold  out  if  she 
does  much  work.  She  cares  not  for  choice 
food  or  raiment  and  can  sleep  anywhere. 

11.  One  who  helps  another  do  her  work. 
She  will  help  get  the  supper  in  the  kitchen 
talking  about  Jesus.  She  will  help  with  the 
sewing  and  find  a way  into  the  heart  of  the 
one  she  would  lead. 

12.  Even  though  she  may  not  know  all 
the  Bible  truths  to  be  able  to  teach  them, 
yet  by  her  words  and  actions  she  lives  the 

truths. 


11 


13.  She  doesn’t  pretend  to  know  what 
she  doesn’t  know'. 

14.  By  her  very  ignorance  the  power  of 
God  is  manifested. 

15.  She  trusts  not  in  learning  or  worldly 
ability  but  leans  on  the  power  of  the  Holy 
Spirit. 

Before  he  had  finished  the  women  w'ere 
whispering  among  themselves,  “Hyensi!  He 
means  Hyensi!”  She  has  a small  pock- 
marked face,  cross  eyes,  a>.tiny  nose,  a fat 
body,  a small  head.  But  these  are  not  seen 
as  she  tells  of  Jesus  and  His  love.  She  has 
a radiant  smile  that  makes  the  marks  on 
her  face  fade  away  in  the  wrinkles.  One 
thinks  not  of  the  face  or  the  form. 

She  was  sent  and  the  prayers  followed 
her.  As  she  was  going  along  the  road  that 
she  had  travelled  many  times,  hunting  up 
those  she  had  talked  to  and  prayed  for,  a 
woman  and  her  daughter-in-law  were  in 
the  field.  They  hid  from  her.  The  daughter- 
in-law  said  to  her  mother-in-law,  “Who  is 
this  woman  from  whom  we  hide?”  The 
reply  was,  “Jesus.”  That  night  as  the 
girl  went  into  the  village  she  determined 
to  find  that  woman  with  the  radiant  face 
who  made  everybody  happy.  She  went  to 
one  place  and  said,  “Has  Jesus  been  here?” 
“No,”  was  the  reply.  She  went  from  place 
to  place  and  at  last  found  Hyensi.  She  was 
led  to  Jesus,  and  told  the  above  when  she 
was  baptized. 

The  ugliest  of  the  women  was  chosen — 
Why?  Because  she  had  the  qualifications. 
Wherever  she  went  among  the  heathen  she 
was  called  “Jesus”  until  they  knew  Him. 
The  qualification  is  to  be  like  Him,  and 
Hyensi  tried  to  live  the  life  hid  with  Christ 
in  God. 

George  S.  McCune, 
Syen  Chun — Chosen. 


February,  1017 


Form  No.  2403 


